Method of packing fruit and the like



Jan. 24, 1933., 5 RICE 1,895,430

METHOD OF PACKING FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed March 20, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ME A. E, RICE OD 0F PACKING FRUIT AND THE LIKE attend;

' Jan. 24, 1933.

A. E. RICE 1,895,430

Jan. 24, 1933.

METHOD OF PACKING FRUIT AND THE LIKE 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 20.

I dttmawlq Patented Jan. 24, 1933 qm'rao STATES meant PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR 13. 3161 BIGLEBVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB '1'!) RICE, TBEW & 3101 CO. mo 03 BIGLERVIILE, PENNSYLVANIA1 A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF-PACKING FRUIT AND THE LIKE Application filed March 20, 1931.

This invention relates to a method for packing friut or the like, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a method whereby the package in its formation comprises the filling of a liner before an inverted basket or container is applied over the liner and its content, together with the further step of allowing the weight of the package content to cause said content to compensate itself to any irregularities which may be present in the surrounding wall of the basket or container so that when the basket or container with its content is upended the basket content is in firm and proper placement within the basket or container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of this kind embodying the use of a facing layer for the basket content wherein the upending of the basket or container with its content will not in any way disturb said facing layer but will maintain the same in substantially the original formation of the facing layer upon the facing form.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method of this kind embodying the use of a packing liner having a removable member coacting with portions of the liner to hold the same against expansion, the liner when said member is removed being so constructed as to provide expansion of the liner, said member ermitting its removal to be effected when t e liner is full and an inverted basket or container placed over the liner and its content without disturbance of such content.

It is also an object of the invention to prd vide a method of this kind including a split packing liner together with a flexible or yielding member to hold the end portions of the liner in overlapping relation, said flexible member being readily removable when an inverted basket or co'ntainer is placed over the filled liner.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating an Serial No. 524,159.

initial step of the method as herein disclosed;

Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating a succeeding step;

igure 3 is a view partly in section aind ee partly in elevation illustrating the assembly of the various parts before the removal of the holding member from the liner;

Figure 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the upended container with its content;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating the holding member as herein employed in applied position with respect to the liner;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the holding member as herein disclosed;

Figure 7 is a sectional view illustrating a step comprised in another embodiment of my 7e invention; 1

Figure 8 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the succeeding step in the second embodiment;

Figure 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the step in applying the facing form directly Within the container.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, F denotes a fac- 8o ing form upon which a facing layer of fruit or the like is adapted to be arranged whereupon a tub T with an applied liner L are placed upon the form. The assembled tub T and liner L are then properly filled with fruit or the like and after the tub T has been removed a basket B or other desired container in an inverted position is placed over the liner L and its content.

The liner L comprises a sheet of pa er stock or other-suitable material with pre erably the grain of such stock dis osed in a general direction lengthwise of t e liner to afford a strong wall not liable to breakage or yield and which also 'ves to the liner a as natural tendency to readily open or spread out, thus facilitating the application of the liner in working position.

The liner L is initially of a split form or loose end type and inits opposite end porloo tions is provided with the openings 1 so positioned that when the end portions 0 the liner are in overlapping relation the openings 1 at one end portion will register with and this member M possesses suflicient fiexibility to allow the same to be readily withdrawn or removed when the inverted basket or container B is applied over the liner L and its content. Upon removal of this member M, the end portions of the liner L will be entirely disconnected thus permitting the liner L to expand,-or more particularly to allow sufiicient slippage of the overlapping end portions of the-liner L, so that the liner content under its own weight will settle to compensate itself to any irregularities which may be present in the surrounding wall of the basket or container B while at thesame time the facing layer upon the form F is maintained immovable. Wlren the basket or container B with its content is upended, the content of the basket or container B is in proper placement therein and the facing layer of fruit or the like maintaining without disturbance substantially its original formation upon the facing form F.

The member or key'M may be of any material or materials possessing sufiicient flexibility to allow the same to be readily withdrawn while the inverted basket or container B is ap lied over the liner L and its content but, as ierein disclosed, the member M comprises two superimposed layers or laminations a of paper stock having interposed therebetween a lamination b of asphaltum. It has been found in practice that a member M constructed in this manner possesses suflicient strength to hold the overlapping portions of the liner L yet readily flexes without breaking as the member M is withdrawn downwardly from its applied or working position.

The member M is threaded through the openings 1 of the overlapping portions of the liner L before said liner L is applied within the tub T with the extended portion of the member M disposed beyond the larger end of the tub T, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. This extended portion of the member M is then bent over and outwardly with respect to the adjacent end edge of the tub T by the operator so that when the inverted basket or container B is placed over the filled liner L, this bent portion of the member M will be properly dlsposed beyond the periphery of the adjacent portion of the basket or container B so that it may be readily grasped by the operator for with- "throu h the lower 0 drawing the member M before the basket or container B and its content is upended.

With this method of packing as hereinbefore set forth, the liner L within the basket or container is so maintained therein as to effectively protect the facing layer of fruit or the like and more especially when the lid or cover is applied to the basket or container. This is due to the fact that the liner when applied within the basket or container will at all times have a portion thereof extended beond the 0 en face of the basket or container ecause be ore the basket or container is upended the content of the basket or container has firm settlement within the basket or container.

The embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figures 7 to 9, is substantially the same as set forth with respect to the first embodiment except that in this second form of my invention the facing layer of fruit or the like is not placed upon the facing form F but is arranged directly in the basket or container B after such basket or container has been 11 ended. In order that this particular nieth of packing may be carried into effect, the form F has its central portion materially raised so that when the tub T with its applied liner L is placed upon the form F this central raised portion 4 will extend a considerable distance up within the liner and tub.

- Therefore, when the liner is initially filled,

this portion 4 will assure the proper formation of the basket content at a desired depth below the top or 0 en face of the basket or container B after ing upended to provide proper space or room for an operator to direct form' the desired facing layer within the asket or container B upon the basket content previously therein.

I claim 1. A method of packing fruit which consists in applying means to the end portions of a split liner to allow said liner to be placed upon a facing form, placing the liner upon the form, filling the liner, placing an inverted container over the filled liner, removing the means holding the end portions of the liner together while the container is in inverted position over the liner and its content to allow the liner and its content to conform to the container before upending the container.

2. A method of packing fruit which consists in applying means to the end portions of a split liner to allow said liner to be placed upon 11 facing form, placing the liner upon the form, filling the liner, lacing an inverted container over the filled liner, removin n end of the inverte container the means olding the end portions of the liner to ther while the container is in inverted position over the liner and its content to allow the liner and its content to conform to the container before upending the container.

3. A method of packing fruit which consists in applying a means to the extremities of asplit hner to hold the liner in a form for placement upon a facing form, placing such liner upon t e facing form filling the liner placing a container over the filled liner and releasing the holding means while the container is disposed over the liner and its content and while the liner and its content remains up ofithe facing form.

4. A method of packing fruit which consists in applying a means to the extremities of a split liner to hold the liner in a. form for placement upon a facin form, placing such liner upon the facing orm, filling the I liner, placing a container over the filled liner and releasing the holding means while the container is disposed over the liner and its content and while the liner and its content remains upon the facing form, the releasing of the holding means being through the en of the container adjacent to the facing form. 5QA method of packin fruit consisting in placing a facing layer 0 fruit upon a. facing form, placing a liner upon the facing form around the facing layer thereon, said liner before being applied to the facing form having means engaged therewith to hold the liner against substantial expansion, fillin the liner, placing a container over the fille liner while upon the facing form, removing the holding means without disturbing the facing layer so that the liner and its content will eflectively accommodate itself to the side walls of the applied container and the content to have tight contact with the facing layer, upending the facing form and the container with its content.

6. A method of packing fruit which consists in applying means to the end portions of a split liner to allow said liner to be placed upon a facing form, placing the liner upon the form, filling the liner, placing an inverted container over the filled liner, removing the means holding the end portions of the liner together while the container is in inverted position over the liner and its content to allow the liner and its content to conform to the container before upending the container, and

then applying 21 facing layer of fruit within the container upon its content.

7. A method of packing fruit which consists in applying a split liner upon a facin form with the end ortions of the liner hel against substantia expansion, filling the liner, placing an inverted container over the filled liner, releasing the end portions of the liner while the container is in inverted position over the liner and its content to allow the liner and its content to conform to the container before upending the container.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ARTHUR E. RICE. 

